Definition

The Dewey Decimal call number assigned by the Library of Congress (LC), Library and Archives Canada (NLC), or other national agencies. Use field 082 or field 092 for Dewey numbers assigned by agencies other than LC, NLC, etc.

Use field 082 if you are transcribing Dewey numbers from LC copy or Canadian Cataloging-in-Publication and to identify the edition of the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) from which the class number was derived.

If you assign a Dewey Decimal Classification number according to the DDC schedules or to LC practice, use field 092 or field 082 with 2nd indicator 4. If the classification portion of your number does not conform to the DDC schedules, use field 099.

Guidelines

Transcribing Dewey numbers from LC copy

Use the following guidelines for entering Dewey number from LC copy.

Segmentation (prime) marks. Since 1967 LC has divided Dewey class numbers into as many as three segments. LC uses prime marks ( ' ) to separate the segments. The prime marks indicate logical places to shorten a long class number if a library does not want the complete number. If you are transcribing a Dewey class number from LC copy, enter a slash (/) instead of a prime mark.

As of September 1, 2005, the Library of Congress discontinued the practice of assigning segmentation marks (also referred to as prime marks or slash marks) to indicate the beginning of standard subdivisions in DDC numbers. The assignment of segmentation marks to indicate the end of abridged numbers, however, will continue. This means that any given DDC number will contain a maximum of one segmentation mark, and every segmentation mark can safely be interpreted as indicating the end of an abridged number. For more information see:

Juvenile works. For works intended for a juvenile audience, a lowercase j is added as a prefix. The j prefix is not added to DDC numbers in records for juvenile textbooks.

Dewey number on LC copy

Enter

j574

j574

Juvenile works with [E] or [Fic]. For some juvenile works, LC copy has [E] or [Fic] instead of a Dewey class number. Use field 082 for these designations, include the brackets.

Dewey number on LC copy

Enter

[E]

[E]

[Fic]

[Fic]

Dewey numbers followed by 92 or 920. Use a second subfield ‡a for the 92 or 920.

Dewey number on LC copy

Enter

658.404 92

658.404 ‡a 92

Uppercase B in post-1971 numbers. Since January 1971, LC has used an uppercase B to identify works as primarily biographical. If LC copy includes a Dewey number followed by B enclosed in parentheses or brackets, use a second subfield ‡a for the B. Do not enter the parentheses or brackets.

Dewey number on LC copy

Enter

942.082 [B]

942.082 ‡a B

LC assigned Dewey numbers according to both the 14th and the 15th editions of the Dewey schedules. From January 1952–November 1958 LC added an asterisk before numbers based on the 15th edition. If you are transcribing such a number, move the asterisk to the end of the number and add ‡2 15.

If LC copy has two Dewey numbers and one is preceded by an asterisk, use the first subfield ‡a for the number without the asterisk. Use a second subfield ‡a for the other number and move the asterisk to the end of the number.

Dewey number on LC copy

Enter

*657.6

657.6* ‡2 15

*735.29 735.42

735.42 ‡a 735.29*

Series numbers. To indicate a series number, LC uses a lowercase s following a Dewey number. If you are transcribing such a number, enter the number, one space, and the lowercase s.

Dewey number on LC copy

Enter

081s

081 s

Parentheses indicating Dewey numbers assigned to a series. At one time, LC used parentheses to indicate a Dewey number assigned to the series. If you are transcribing such a number, do not enter the parentheses. Enter the number, one space, and a lowercase s.

Dewey number on LC copy

Enter

(015.73)

015.73 s

Two Dewey numbers: one in parentheses, one not. If the cataloging is for a serial publication, do not enter the number outside the parentheses. Enter the other number, according to current practice for designating numbers assigned to series: Do not enter the parentheses. Enter the number, one space, and a lowercase s.

Dewey number on LC copy

Enter

(015.73) 015.791

015.73 s

If the cataloging is for a nonserial publication, do not enter the number enclosed in parentheses. Enter only the other number.

Dewey number on LC copy

Enter

(015.73) 015.791

015.791

Dewey numbers with minus signs. If LC preceded the Dewey number with a minus sign (-), do not enter that number. Some LC copy includes both a "minus" Dewey number and a Dewey number enclosed in parentheses. Do not enter the "minus" number. Enter the other number according to current practice for designating numbers assigned to series. Do not enter the parentheses. Enter the number, a blank space, and a lowercase s.

Dewey number on LC copy

Enter

-222.14

[Do not enter such numbers]

-222.14 (927.5)

927.5 s

Dewey numbers in brackets. A Dewey number in brackets is an alternative classification number. If LC copy has one Dewey number enclosed in brackets, enter the number with brackets. If LC copy has two Dewey numbers, and one is bracketed, use the first subfield ‡a for the unbracketed number. Use a second subfield ‡a for the bracketed number.

Dewey number on LC copy

Enter

[320.9777]

[320.9777]

[016.3584] 012

012 ‡a [016.3584]

Dewey number followed by lowercase s and a second number in brackets. Enter the first Dewey number according to current practice for numbers assigned to series. Enter the number, one space, and a lowercase s. Use a second subfield ‡a for the bracketed number. Enter the brackets.

Dewey number on LC copy

Enter

081s [370.19'342]

081 s ‡a [370.19/342]

Canadian CIP

If you are transcribing Canadian Cataloging-in-Publication (CIP), use field 082 for the Dewey class number assigned by the Library and Archives Canada. Enter a C before the class number.

Dewey on Canadian CIP copy

Enter

364'.971

C364/.971

1st Indicator

Type of edition. The classification number is from the full or the abridged edition of the classification schedules. Use subfield ‡2 for the actual edition number.

No edition information recorded. Obsolete. Do not use.

0

Full edition. The class number was taken from the full edition.

1

Abridged edition. The class number was taken from the abridged edition.

2nd Indicator

Source of classification number. The source of the classification number.

No information provided. No information is provided about the source of the class number.

0

Assigned by LC. The source of the class number is the Library of Congress.

4

Assigned by agency other than LC. The source of the class number is an organization other than the Library of Congress.

Subfields

‡a Classification number

The classification number portion of the call number.

‡b Item number

The item number portion of the call number.

‡m Standard or optional designation

Designates whether the classification number contained in the field is from the standard or optional part of the schedules or tables of the scheme identified by the first indicator (Type of edition) and by subfield ‡2 (Edition number). The following codes are used: a (standard) and b (optional).

Standard or optional designation: If subfield ‡m is present, only one subfield ‡a should be coded, unless the value in subfield ‡m applies to all numbers in repeated occurrences of subfield ‡a. Otherwise, the field is repeated.

Data that identifies linked fields and may also propose a sequence for the linked fields. Subfield ‡8 may be repeated to link a field to more than one other group of fields. You are responsible for creating and maintaining the link (The system does not create or maintain these links). The structure and syntax of subfield ‡8 is:

‡8 [linking number].[sequence number]\[field link type]

Note: Subfield ‡8 is defined differently in field 852, where it is used to sequence related holdings records.

Subfield ‡8 has three parts:

The linking number is required. It occurs in subfield ‡8 in all fields to be linked (fields containing the same linking number are linked).

The sequence number is optional and preceded by a period (.). It is used to indicate the order in which the linked fields display (lower sequence numbers display before higher ones). If used, it must occur in all subfields ‡8 containing the same linking number.

The field link type is required and preceded by a reverse slash (\). It is a code indicating the reason for the link and it follows the linking number (or sequence number, if present). Field link type is required except when subfield ‡8 is used to link and sequence 85x-87x holdings fields. These are the valid codes:

a (Action). Used to link one or more fields with another field to which the processing or reference actions relate. This code is typically used only when there is more than one 5xx field that relates to another 5xx field.

c (Constituent item). Used in a record for a collection or a single item consisting of identifiable constituent units, to link the fields relating to the constituent units. All other non-linked data elements in the record pertain to the collection or item as a whole.

r (Reproduction). Used in a record for a reproduction to identify fields linked because they contain information concerning only the reproduction. Other descriptive information in the record pertains to the original (with the exception of field 007 (Physical Description fixed field), fixed field Form, field 245 subfield ‡h (Title Statement / Medium), and field 533 (Reproduction Note)).

x (General sequencing). Used in a record to make a link between fields to show a sequence between them. The sequence could be one that orders the pieces of a long field that has been broken up, indicates the relative importance of fields within the sequence, or is used for some other sequencing purpose. Use of the sequence number in subfield ‡8 is required when this code is used.